28th April 2007 better lesson 11 days to my 1st test

Better lesson than last one. Need to check mirrors more and make sure I position more to left on left turns. Went wrong way at roundabout should of gone right but missed turning so did U turn. Went to test centre eyesight check which I got one letter wrong on both number plates from 1st distance asked on test so should be ok. Pulling away from test centre I did all mirror checks and blind spot but as I was moving a white van appears and my instructor has to tell me. I nearly stopped at green light today, there were 2 sets together with filter lights one for straight on and other for turning right and I was going straight on and that was on green the ones for going right were on red so I slow down thinking the red light is for me but my instructor tells me ours is on green. About 3 times I was late seeing a 30mph sign which was after being in a 60mph zone so slowed down as I passed the sign. Also signaled right instead of left to exit roundabout.

Did all 3 manoeuvres, turn in road did well but not enough observations on first bit. Reverse round corner on test corner which is first corner I messed up on then did it ok time afer. Did ok on it today went bit wide but corrected it and parked well and good observations. Parallel park getting better not too bad at it now did it 2nd go, 1st I left turning to right a bit late so had to go forward again.

Mock test Thursday and probably a few extra lessons after that before my test Wednesday I'm still looking forward to it but odd little things that could be better which I can do.

24th April 2007 bad lesson stupid mistakes

My instructor told me to take him to Rotherham which ever way I wanted. So decided to go bit different way that I've not been with him before then follow bus route as thats the way I know best, Was good choosing the way and its something I'll get used to once I pass my test. (can't wait) Got near roundabout that you can get on motorway from or go straight on and I was told to go left which is another different way to normal which I enjoyed.

After this it seemed to go down hill lost count how many stupid mistakes I did. Went too wide on left turn, ended up in right hand lane coming up to roundabout though remembered to check mirrors before moving to left lane. Was told to turn right at roundabout but never though to get in right lane so had to go straight on instead, went round bend in 3rd gear, left changing down gear late a few times so was steering and changing down. Come out at junction looking right but not left and a car was passing on left (left turn narrow street) my instructor told me to wait. Instructor had to point out that some traffic lights were on red. Totally forgot to put it in 1st gear before stopping at junctions til my instructor mentioned it half way through lesson. Stopped bit close to car in front once. I think I signaled once or twice without checking mirror first though mirrors wasn't too bad. Went over the 30mph speed limit once didn't know it was 30mph thought it was 40mph cos instructor told me to use 4th gear for emergency stop but didn't have time to do it. My instructor says this was probably my worst lesson with him. But one good thing I didn't get dualled once though there was plenty of times where I could of been.

19th April 2007 great lesson

I asked if I could do parallel parking today as its my worst manoeuvre (well usually) instructors reply was not here (busy road cars passing) he said I wouldn't fail on it though I think I would. I checked mirrors more managed all correct lanes, getting better at deciding when its safe to go at jnctions and roundabouts. Instructor called another driver a name when they pulled out in front of me at junction and at roundabout quite amusing. One little mistake I went on a big roundabout in 4th thinking it was 3rd cos I saw it was safe got round well though.

Did reverse round corner 3 times. 1st time car looked like it was going right instead of left so started steering right then stopped to check and relised left was correct and rolled forward cos clutch was down and facing down hill. 2nd time car rolls forward no matter how high clutch is cos car wasn't in gear properly (was in reverse) so had to push it in better, get to corner steer left and straighten up too soon so end up in middle of road. Instructor kept telling me to look out back window instead of left wing mirror when stopped he explained what I went wrong with and explained if I'm not looking out back window most of time with good all round observations or go too fast I wont pass my test then added you wouldn't WANT to pass if you did it wrong would you. I had to correct him and say it would be understandable not to pass rather than not wanting to pass. 3rd go I managed it ok. parallel parking next pulled up side of parked car stop bit early so I start at the point where you start turning wheel left and for the first time EVER I manage it with no help and park well. I was shocked.

I asked to do emergency stop and got to do one in 2nd gear instructor kept saying leave it in 2nd (which I had to) and keep it at same speed for a gentle emergency stop (is that possible a gentle emergency stop???) I got just above 20mph and brakes squeaked again but wont get marked down on test for that. Next lesson 2 emergency stops in 4th gear should be good as depending on speed limit for the road the car can get up to over 50mph in 4th. On way home some traffic lights turned to amber and I braked hard to stop my instructor said that was another emergency stop but I could of braked quicker.

15th April 2007 Good lesson with stupid mistake

Lesson started great checking mirrors enough doing everything right talking to instructor about examiners as I've read a few worrying things about them on tests. Been advised by another instructor on 2pass forum that it may help if I have my instructor sat in back on my test to make sure I get fair test but a fair test can work against you as well as in your favor. My instructor would rather not sit in on tests but will if asked he said some examiners pass people after giving good drive even if they do one serious like going past zebra crossing when people are waiting to cross which they wouldn't of got away with if instructor had been in back, also he said more people seem to pass with him in back which may make me decide to have him in back though I think it will depend how I feel on day of test I must not think it's end of the world if I fail I will get over it and book another.

First mistake was stopping at traffic lights in 3rd gear then forgetting to put it in 1st and moving off in 3rd my instructor reminds me nto change to 1st so I manage to carry on without stalling. The next was probably one of the stupidest ones, I was told to turn right at end of the road so I check mirror signal right and get mixed up where I'm meant to be as there is like a triangle pavement in middle of road left hand side to go left right hand side to go right. I assume the right hand side is for traffic coming the other way so steer left to left side only to end up heading for the pavement bit in middle my instructor slams brakes on just before hitting it and decides I'm closer to going left so change signal to left and have to go left to make it harder I was facing up hill but managed that well. Next mistake was on a roundabout again right turn, signal right and check its safe and go onto the roundabout and forget I'm turning right and go for left lane so my instructor has to remind me. Another roundabout I look right and there are cars on the inside lane and I need outside lane so assume I can go and start to pull on to it but instructor said I should of waited cos them cars would need left lane to exit and if I blocked them I'd fail my test so I'm half way on but wait til a gap comes.

Instructor told me to pull up on left and I guessed it was for turn in road cos it was same road as other times. I did it well today then near end of lesson my instructor said I was to do emergency stop when he said stop I did try to get up to 3rd gear but he said stop before I had chance so slam brakes on as quick as I can. Next another turn in road which I did well then going home and instructor remembers he needs some change so drive to shop pull up and stop and another car needs to get out so my instructor reverses it a bit with his clutch and brake then ends up stalling it cos took his foot off clutch with it still in gear, I just had to point out it was his fault not mine. :-) I then I ask if we can do another emergency stop so he tells me to on a straight road I get up to 3rd but then cars where parked in way and road bend so couldn't then got to junction so had to stop. Then got up to 2nd and he said stop when he said no chance of getting to 3rd so foot down in 2nd just over 20mph managed to do another good emergency stop tires or brakes squeaked it was that quick.

Thoughts on my recent change of instructor

Wasn't sure about changing instructor to start with but after nearly 2 month of lessons with new instructor overall I am glad I changed. Though wondered if I'd done right thing once or twice when he canceled a lesson and didn't turn up for one but later said why when a car went into back of his hopefuly no more will be canceled. My current instructor talks more in lessons rather than just telling me what to do like my 1st instructor. Not testing my eyesight every single lesson like the 1st did though could be cos I manage to read number plates more now. He seems to want me to do well and my 1st instructor obviously wasn't bothered as she has never been in touch since my last lesson with her. Got test booked which I don't think I would of with my 1st instructor. I feel I can talk to my current one more like if theres something I want to do or need to improve on I can ask to do that and we will. Easyer to contact if needed can text or pm on forum where my 1st instructor either didn't have mobile or just didn't give her number out.

10th April 2007 good lesson and tram lines

Set off well instructor reminds me about mirrors a few times and I check them more. Quite a few times I accidently went bit over speed limit once was by 10mph oops was supposed to be doing 30mph but somehow got to 40mph. Went to turn right up hill in 3rd gear instructor had to tell me not in 3rd so changed to 2nd and relised needed 1st. Went on dual carriageway for quite a while (the longer I'm on dual carriageway on my test the better not many mistakes you can do on them just drive fast if safe and watch ahead and leave bigger gaps between you and car in front and check mirrors as normal.) After a bit we got to tram lines not test route but enjoyed it and did well my instructor said some people panic on them but I didn't.

Getting better at getting out at junctions and roundabouts but still working on it. Did turn in road which was probably one of the worst attempts cos it was on a slope facing down hill I let hand brake off ease off foot brake it rolls forward then stops so I get biting point and it moves backwards stop and look why its going backwards its in reverse, mite help if it was in 1st I put it in 1st and it works, on reverse bit I stop too soon and have to put hand brake on then reverse back bit more, I manage the last bit ok. I ask if that is a area where you could be asked to do turn in road on test and yes it is unfortunally. No emergency stops today should be doing a few next lesson and parallel parking which is or was my worst manoeuvre before todays turn in road. Instructor tested me reading number plate at end of lesson which I managed.

4th April 2007 good afternoon lesson

Well wasn't expecting lesson today my instructor sent me pm on 2pass forum before last lesson saying he needed to do lesson the day before cos car was being serviced on the Monday when lesson was booked and then the next one would be Wednesday (today) but on last lesson he said Thursday (tomorrow) so at 5pm today I thought I'd better check he's not there and he was. So mad rush to get ready and said I thought lesson was tomorrow.

Set off well still need more mirror checks, went about 45mph twice on a 40mph by accident. Coming up to traffic lights they turn to amber but no way at all that I could of stopped behind the line even with emergency stop, my instructor agrees that I couldn't of stopped then bit later same happens again only I'm slightly further away as they turn to amber and I think I can stop so start to stop and end up having to brake hard and relise it would of been best to keep going though my instructor said it was good emergency stop I knew I'd be good at them.

My instructor was in turn in road mood today did 2 together then drove bit more did another drove a bit more and turned into road with cars parked on both sides my instructor said arn't you lucky cos he was going to ask me to do another but couldn't with all cars well lucky for that road I did another in a different road, did all quite well I think 4 altogether and in 3 stops at side of road. More roundabout work which is improving. I need to judge when its safe to go bit sooner can manage to get out between cars that are far apart sometimes but not other times and sometimes go bit early though not been dualled yet. I also had a go at driving in traffic which went well not much to go wrong there though as long as you are watching when to go and stop. No planned emergency stop today unfortunally I want to do one on my test it will take up a minute or so of the test where it could otherwise go wrong how about a full 40 minute test on emergency stops that would be good. Overall I feel confident about the test with or without emergency stop I think the main thing that I'll be marked down for is being hesitant at roundabouts or junctions which I'm working on. Any thing else I can do when on test like checking mirrors just in lessons I seem to forget.

1st April 2007 more mirror checks needed

Instructor was 15 minutes late today he had over slept though still got my full 2 hours. Get in car put in neutral check hand brake and ajust mirror as usual clutch down first gear instructor puts it back in neutral (confused) I tell him I checked it was in neutral he tells me the engine isn't on yet, the first time I've ever done that one. So switch engine on and get biting point car not in gear, come on THINK. Mirror checks ggrrrrrr I check them enough one lesson then hardly check them the next lesson today it was hardly check them. I hit the kerb on a big roundabout near the begining, I forgot to change down to 2nd gear to turn right at a little roundabout and car was struggling up hill I still didn't relise I was in 4th gear til my instructor told me.

I did parallel park or more like tried to first went completely wrong had no idea how much to turn wheel or when to turn it the other way. Second one my instructor helped me a bit and managed it better. Then went to a different car to try again and managed it again with bit of help. Next turn in road a road sometimes used on tests, I manage first 2 bits well then have clutch bit too high and take hand brake off and shoot forwards and cos I hadn't put a few right locks on before stopping on reverse bit it goes wrong way, so I reverse again hitting the kerb and finish it.

I had bit too much gas on a few times today on manoeuvres and changing gear. I went on narrow roads which were 60mph limit but theres no way you could go much over 30mph safely I did well on them. Still go bit too near white line at times. At the end of the lesson my instructor gets me to do another turn in road on a very narrow road to make me steer correctly and I manage it in 5 turns and my instructor said thats least it could of been done in. Then I'm told to get to 3rd gear for emergency stop and stop as if a child had run out I start to brake bit too gently so remind myself just stop slam brakes on did quite well on that I like emergency stops hope to do one every lesson. (in 3rd gear)